Darkest Days?

I am a 34 year old, long time Viking fan. I live in Georgia. I have been along for a lot of bumpy roads with the purple. Yet, I am really unsettled about the 2011 team. I am wondering if these are the Viking's darkest days. Why?

1)I have serious doubts about Frazier's coaching ability. I don't doubt his leadership and he did several things that needed to be done, i.e. bench and/or release McNabb, Berrian, and McKinnie. Yet, I don't know if he has the skillset to bring us to the promised land. We don't have the fortune of being abundantly talented, so we can't overcome a coahing coming into his own.(I had doubts about Tice, Chilly too)

2) At least in the past, we had AP. Everything was going to be ok, because we had AP. Now, his injury casts doubt.

3) C. Ponder is not the answer. I hear you, it's too early to tell, but is it really? He's an athlete and he's smart, but he does not have the arm strength. Based on my observations, many of his int's are the proper reads but, it takes the ball too long to get to the right spot. (Yes, i agree our recievers are below average and the played into regression)

4)No stadium deal- LA looms.... I can't be a fan of the LA Vikings.

5) Pourous secondary, Bad O-line... i can go on and on....

In short, bad ol, secondary, no AP, no Wr, no QB, coach is a ? mark... I know many are you are saying...I'm just raw from an awful season, but that's not true....I just wonder if these are a darkest days?

(At least Wilf spends money and we have the 3rd pick----maybe just maybe brighter days are ahead)

SKOL

1) Pseudo Agree. It is obviously still early, but I am not convinced he can do it yet. But the point is moot because he is our coach at least through this season.

2) Agree

3) Disagree. His INTs have been primarily the wrong read or forcing the throw. The myth about his lack of arm strength is just that - a myth. One that was born in college when he spent a season with a shoulder injury. He isn't going to fire it 80 yard down the field, but his arm is well within NFL standards. Before I say that he is or isn't the answer, I need to see him perform behind a line that can block for longer than two nanoseconds.

4) The deal will get done. All signs are pointing to it getting worked out. And if by the slimmest of chances it does not, I will still be a fan of the team. I have no allegiance to Minnesota, especially considering how badly they have flubbed the stadium issue.

5) Agreed 100%

Are these our darkest days? I don't think so. With great draft positioning, a good owner, and a stadium that is sure to be built... I think we are OK.

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Originally Posted by NodakPaul

1) Pseudo Agree. It is obviously still early, but I am not convinced he can do it yet. But the point is moot because he is our coach at least through this season.

2) Agree

3) Disagree. His INTs have been primarily the wrong read or forcing the throw. The myth about his lack of arm strength is just that - a myth. One that was born in college when he spent a season with a shoulder injury. He isn't going to fire it 80 yard down the field, but his arm is well within NFL standards. Before I say that he is or isn't the answer, I need to see him perform behind a line that can block for longer than two nanoseconds.

4) The deal will get done. All signs are pointing to it getting worked out. And if by the slimmest of chances it does not, I will still be a fan of the team. I have no allegiance to Minnesota, especially considering how badly they have flubbed the stadium issue.

5) Agreed 100%

Are these our darkest days? I don't think so. With great draft positioning, a good owner, and a stadium that is sure to be built... I think we are OK.

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Nice take Paul. While it seems that there are too many negatives to be overcome, our situation is not hopeless. It will take hard work, brains and some time, but this team can be rebuilt.

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Originally Posted by shockzilla

Nice take Paul. While it seems that there are too many negatives to be overcome, our situation is not hopeless. It will take hard work, brains and some time, but this team can be rebuilt.

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+1

Lots of holes to fill - if there's a team desperate for RGIII or Blackmon, I say stockpile the picks.

=Z=

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Originally Posted by Zeus

+1

Lots of holes to fill - if there's a team desperate for RGIII or Blackmon, I say stockpile the picks.

=Z=

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WR is a big hole, we have 2 WR's of note, neither of those are legitimate #1's, (Jenkins is a #2, Harvin is a slot guy) the rest??.. Aramshadou, Camarillo, Burton... thats a who's who of crap right there. If Kalil is gone at 2, then i take Blackmon.

Thanks guys, I feel better already. I rather have Claiborne, too many WR free agents.

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Originally Posted by Johnson14

WR is a big hole, we have 2 WR's of note, neither of those are legitimate #1's, (Jenkins is a #2, Harvin is a slot guy) the rest??.. Aramshadou, Camarillo, Burton... thats a who's who of crap right there. If Kalil is gone at 2, then i take Blackmon.

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Call me silly, but I like Aromashodu. He's shown through the second half of the season he can be relied on as an option. No, not a go-to, but he gets open and he catches balls, that to me is enough to be our #3. Finished the season off with 26 rec. 468 yards . Not bad as a #3 or 4, especially considering how crappy our QB play has been all season.

The rest of our receivers:
Harvin: 87 rec, 967 yards
Aromashodu: 26 rec, 468 yards
Jenkins: 38 rec, 466 yards
Shiancoe: 36 rec, 409 yards
Rudolph: 26 rec, 249 yards
Gerhart: 23 rec, 190 yards
Peterson: 18 rec, 139 yards
Camarillo: 9 rec, 121 yards
Berrian: 7 rec, 91 yards
Burton: 2 rec, 38 yards
Webb: 1 rec, 9 yards

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Originally Posted by i_bleed_purple

Call me silly, but I like Aromashodu. He's shown through the second half of the season he can be relied on as an option. No, not a go-to, but he gets open and he catches balls, that to me is enough to be our #3. Finished the season off with 26 rec. 468 yards . Not bad as a #3 or 4, especially considering how crappy our QB play has been all season.

The rest of our receivers:
Harvin: 87 rec, 967 yards
Aromashodu: 26 rec, 468 yards
Jenkins: 38 rec, 466 yards
Shiancoe: 36 rec, 409 yards
Rudolph: 26 rec, 249 yards
Gerhart: 23 rec, 190 yards
Peterson: 18 rec, 139 yards
Camarillo: 9 rec, 121 yards
Berrian: 7 rec, 91 yards
Burton: 2 rec, 38 yards
Webb: 1 rec, 9 yards

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I also think he is a free agent so I don't know what if he is looking to move on if he gets the chance

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Originally Posted by i_bleed_purple

Call me silly, but I like Aromashodu. He's shown through the second half of the season he can be relied on as an option. No, not a go-to, but he gets open and he catches balls, that to me is enough to be our #3. Finished the season off with 26 rec. 468 yards . Not bad as a #3 or 4, especially considering how crappy our QB play has been all season.

The rest of our receivers:
Harvin: 87 rec, 967 yards
Aromashodu: 26 rec, 468 yards
Jenkins: 38 rec, 466 yards
Shiancoe: 36 rec, 409 yards
Rudolph: 26 rec, 249 yards
Gerhart: 23 rec, 190 yards
Peterson: 18 rec, 139 yards
Camarillo: 9 rec, 121 yards
Berrian: 7 rec, 91 yards
Burton: 2 rec, 38 yards
Webb: 1 rec, 9 yards

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Me too. I am actually fairly happy with Harvin, Aromashodu and Jenkins. I think with Rudolph developing as a solid threat that is a pretty good corps right there for Ponder. The WR excuse for Ponder has grown old. Good QBs are good QBs. I *hope* Ponder is one of those, but I don't know how much I believe in that right now.

I would love to see us get Blackmon. I think that if the Rams go with Kalil we will almost certainly go with Blackmon (though I would not throw a fit if we take Claiborne or trade the pick to whatever team wants to come up and get RGIII ahead of the Browns). Blackmon is a superstar ... so despite thinking our WRs are OK ... I would have no problem with adding him to that group.

But, with a Blackmon, Harvin, Aromashodu and Jenkins lineup out there, patience with Ponder will be deservedly thin.

The bright side is that it's almost a certainty that Ponder will improve by next year. I literally could not find a single example of a QB who started his rookie and sophmore year that didn't improve(though I'm sure one exists).